Index-center or the like



yF. c. DICKOVIL. INDEX CENTER on `THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED DIECI-'31. 1917. ygga Paented July 5, 1921,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IIIIIIIIIIlllllnj F. C. DICKOW. INDEX CENTER 0E THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. SI

Patented July5, 1921.`

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STATES FRED C. DICKOW, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDEX-CENTER 0R THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Application filed December 31, 1917. Serial No. 209,685.

To all whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I, FRED C. DIoKoW, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Index-Centers or the like, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as index centers, dividing engines or rotary tables which are used in connection with milling machines or the like. The invention has among its objects the production of an improved index center of the kind described that is simple, convenient, compact, durable, efficient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. More particularly it has among its objects the production of an index center provided with means for positively locking the spindle, and which locking means will hold the spindle perfectly central in -line and not in any way Vtend to force the same out of line. It has as a further object the production of a device in which the spindle actuating mechanism may be conveniently operated or controlled in setting the device. Many other objects, uses and advantages of the construction herein shown will beobvious to those skilled in the art from the 'disclosure herein made.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the `complete index center;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vsectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the spindle locking member.

Referring tothe drawings, 1 represents a base or frame which may be mounted and secured on the milling machine table in any desired manner, and which is arranged to carry the swivel block 2, which carries a tubular Spindle 3' Th@ Spindle Center 4 carried by the spindle 3 in the usual manner. As shown, the swivel block 2 is mounted and secured on the front clamping member 5 and the clamping member 6, the same being movable or adjustable thereon. In the construction shown the same is secured to the part 6 by the clamping plate 7, bolts 8 and suitable nuts. The same may be clamped or secured to the yfront clamp member` 5 by a clamp member 9 and controlling member 10 therefor. yThe particular method or means of securing the swivel blockon the base of frame l, however, forms no part ofthe present invention, consequently need not be described in further de- 22, bymeans of which the pin 2O may be controlled and pulled out of or pushed into engagement with the index plate 18 at any one of the holes 19. No attempt has been made to show the location of the holes accurately. Turning shaft 16l by means of the crank arm 17 rotates the worm 15 and through it turns the worm wheel 14, which is secured on the spindle, thereby turning or rotating thespindle.

In a device of this kind it is necessary or desirable to positively lock the *spindle in the desired set position. The locking means should be positive, however, and so that the same may be quickly and easily locked orunlocked. In locking the spindle, however, the locking or securing should be in such a manner that the spindle carrying the center will not be forcedout of line or be deflected. Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, I mount a` clamping member 24 on the spindle, the same being substantially in the form of a split ring with the extending parts 25 and 26 at each side of the split 24. A spring 28 carried by the pin 27 tends to normally force the extensie@ -2 5 g@ apart and cause the clutch or ring 24 to release the spindle. Referring particularly to F ig. 1, it will be noted that the part 26 abuts against a shoulder 29 on the base l, while the part 25 abuts against a similar shoulder 30 on the base. The clutch is controlled by a bolt or clutch controlling member 81, preferably provided with a handle 32 so vthat a wrench is not necessary in operating the clutch. ln the construction shown, the member 31 is in threaded engagement with the sleeve 83 which is threaded in an opening provided for it. `Gbviously when member 31 is screwed in it tends to force part 25 toward part 26, causing' the clamp or clutch 2d to firmly grip the spindle and lock it against movement. Turning the member 81 in the opposite direction or out releases the clutch and the spring 2S assists the spring in the clutch ring to return the clutch to its disengaged position. lt will be particularly noted that with this construction `the spindle is grasped substantially completely about the same without any tendency to torce the same out of line or deiiect it; on the contrary, if anything it tends to hold it in line. Y

rThe crank arm 17 is so arranged on the shaft 16 that it may be easily removed and slipped or adjusted. Referring to the figure, the arm 17 is provided with the slot 35 with an enlarged part 36 at the end, so that the nut on the shaft 16 need only be loosened and not be entirely removed. A sleeve 37 is carried at the end of the arm and normally locked in Aposition by the clamping` screw 38, the crank being slotted to form a. clamp. Sleeve 37 carries a micrometerA screw, as it may be termed, 39, 4i() being the handle by which the same may be turned. 'lhe shoulder on the inner end oit' the sleeve, and the handle 40 prevents the sleeve being removed or from accidentally being lost, as the screw 39 must be first entirely removed to remove the sleeve. ln adjusting the crank so that the pin 2() will engage any particular row of holes, the/nut on the end of shaft 16 is loosened and the screw 39, which bears against the shaft, is turned to the desired extent to bring` pin 20 to the desired hole or opening 19. rlhe sleeve 3'? may be Yadjusted by adjusting the screw 38. lt is therefore a comparatively simple matter to bring the pin 2O to register with any hole. By the term index center in the claims, l wish to be understood as including index centers, dividing engines, dividing heads, circular head and dividing engines, rotary milling tables or the like, in which it may be ,de

Vsired to lock a spindle or center.

Hai/ing thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modiiications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence 1 do not wish to be understood. as

lessees limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

Wlhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. ln a spindle locking device for index centers, and in combination a support, a work holding spindle mounted on said sup port, the support having bearings for the spindle adjacent its ends, and means for locln ing the spindle against movement relatively to the support, said means comprising a split ring clutch member arranged on the spindle to engage the saine intermediate said bearings, and means for controlling the split ring clutch whereby the spindle is locked against movement relatively to the support.

2. ln a spindle locking device for index centers, a spindle, a supporting block for the spindle, said block being provided with an interior chamber and an opening extending from said chamber to the front face of the block, and means operable from the iront face oit the block for securing the spindle against movement relative to the block, said means comprising a clutch located wholly within the chamber of the block, and an operating stem member for the clutch having an adjustable threaded engagement with the supporting block, said member extending throughthe opening in the supporting block to the outer face thereof. n

3. ln a device of the class described, a spindle, a supporting block for the spindle, said block being provided with an'interior chamber, and an opening in the block extendingvirom said chamber to the exterior of the block, and an abutment wall located interiorly or" the block adjacent said chamber, and means or'securing the spindle against movement relatively to the block comprising a split ring clutch part provided with a radial extension to coperate with said abutment wall, the clutch part and extension being located wholly within the chamber of the block, and an operating member for the split ring clutch part extending through the opening in the supporting block and having its inner end operatively associated with the split-ring clutch part. Y

el. rln a device of the class described,` a spindle, a supporting block-for the spindle,

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said block being provided with an interior chamber and an opening in the block extending from said chamber to the exterior of the block, and an abutment wall rlocated interiorly of the block adjacent said chamber, and means for securing the spindle against movement relatively to the block, comprising a split-ring clutch part provided with radial extensions adj acent. its free end portions,'the Y clutch member and extension being located wholly within the chamber of the block, one of said radial extensions being adapted to In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub- 10 serlbing Witnesses.

FRED C. DICKOW.

Witnesses:

ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB. 

